Haptic stylus

• US 10,296,089 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2016
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Peretz, Ahia, Mishalov, Vadim
• Primary Examiner(s): Jansen, II, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/232,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20180046249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

A device includes a housing, a tip configured to be movable with respect to the housing, a resilient element fixed to the tip, a substrate fixed to the housing, a coil mounted or patterned on the substrate, and a controller configured to induce haptic feedback via the tip based on applying a signal to the coil. A surface of the substrate faces the resilient element. The resilient element presses against the surface in response to the tip receding toward the housing. The resilient element includes magnetic material. The signal applied on the coil induces a magnetic driving force on the resilient element.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a housing;

a tip configured to be movable with respect to the housing;

a resilient element fixed to the tip, wherein the resilient element includes magnetic material, wherein the magnetic material is formed from conductive material;

a plurality of substrates formed in a pyramid structure fixed to the housing, wherein a surface of each substrate is positioned to face the resilient element and wherein the resilient element is configured to press against at least one surface in response to the tip receding toward the housing;

a coil patterned on at least two substrates; and

a controller configured;

apply current flow in the coil to induce haptic feedback via the tip, wherein the current flow is configured to induce a magnetic driving force on the resilient element; and

detect capacitive coupling between the coil and the magnetic material of the resilient element based on applying a constant voltage across the coil, wherein the capacitive coupling is related pressure on the tip.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the resilient element is formed from an elastomer embedded with magnetic particles.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect changes in the capacitive coupling based on deformation of the resilient element as it presses against at least one surface.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to detect pressure applied on the tip based on the detected capacitive coupling.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the haptic feedback is based on the pressure detected.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes a tilt sensor and wherein the haptic feedback is based on output from the tilt sensor.

7. The device according to claim 1, comprising wherein each of at least two substrates is patterned with a planar coil that is magnetically coupled to the resilient element.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the resilient element is a rounded element fitted into the pyramid structure and configured to press against each of the substrates of the pyramid structure.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to simultaneously apply signals on each of the planar coils, wherein the signals are either the same signal or signals that differ in at least one of amplitude, frequency and phase.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the tip is configured to both tilt and recede into the housing based on contact pressure applied on the tip and wherein the controller is configured to apply haptic feedback in three dimensions based on applying signals to each of the planar coils.

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to detect force applied on the tip in three dimensions based on a detected capacitive coupling between the resilient element and a conductive element on each of the substrates, wherein the conductive element is the planar coil or an electrode patterned on the substrate.

12. A method comprising:

fixing a resilient element to a tip that extends out of a housing and is movable with respect to the housing,

wherein the resilient element includes magnetic material and wherein the magnetic material is conductive;

positioning a plurality of substrates in a pyramid structure to face the resilient element and fixed to the housing;

wherein the resilient element is configured to press against at least one surface in response to the tip receding toward the housing;

wherein at least two substrates include a coil that is patterned on the substrate;

inducing haptic feedback via the tip based on applying a current flow in the coil, wherein the current flow is configured to induce a magnetic driving force on the resilient element; and

detecting capacitive coupling between the coil and the magnetic material of the resilient element based on applying a constant voltage across the coil, wherein the capacitive coupling is related pressure on the tip.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising detecting pressure on the tip based on changes in the capacitive coupling between the resilient element and a conductive element on at least one substrate, wherein the changes in capacitive coupling is based on deformation of the resilient element as it presses against the surface.

14. The method claim 13, comprising defining the haptic feedback based on the pressure detected.

15. The method according to claim 12, comprising simultaneously applying signals on each planar coil, wherein in the signals are either the same signal or signals that differ in at least one of amplitude, frequency and phase.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein each of at least two substrates is patterned with a planar coil that is magnetically coupled to the resilient element.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the resilient element is a rounded element fitted into the pyramid structure and configured to press against each of the substrates of the pyramid structure.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising simultaneously applying signals on each of the planar coils, wherein the signals are either the same signal or signals that differ in at least one of amplitude, frequency and phase.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising detecting force applied on the tip in three dimensions based on a detected capacitive coupling between the resilient element and a conductive element on each of the substrates, wherein the conductive element is the planar coil or an electrode patterned on the substrate.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein inducing the haptic feedback is further based on a tilt sensor.